Defend

Chapter Thirty If Ron Can Save A Goal, I Can Go On Another Date

 I walk into my common room and spot Draco with Blaise on one side of the room, and Theo on the other. I inch along the wall to Theo, attempting to stay out of Draco's sight.

Leaning over the back of the chair he's sitting, I blow onto his hair. "Theo?"

Theo looks up at me. "Yes, darling?"

I blush. "Can I talk to you for a moment, in private?"

"Of course." He gets up from the chair and we walk to the corner of the common room, unable to leave due to the impending curfew.

"I wanted to apologise," I begin, wringing my hands nervously. "I shouldn't have snogged with you. I— honestly was just trying to make my ex jealous, which wasn't fair to you. I do think I'm beginning to fancy you, and I don't want you to think I'm just using you."

He takes my hand. "No, no, don't worry. I had an amazing date, and I can't wait for our next one."

I smile at him as we interlace fingers. "Any ideas?"

"Hmm," he stares at the ceiling before leaning close to my ear. "How about a week from now? I'll surprise you."

I smile at the idea and he hugs me before I leave for my dorm.

~~~~

As soon as classes are over the next day, I sprint madly around the castle until I find Ginny.

"Ginny!" I exclaim when I find her. "Just the person I wanted to talk to."

"About what?" she asks.

I grab her hand and drag her to the courtyard. "Harry definitely is beginning to fancy you."

"Harry? As in Harry Potter?"

I roll my eyes. "How many other Harry's do we know?"

"I don't know, it just doesn't seem right."

"Well you didn't see the way he looked at you when you were snogging Dean."
She blushes and starts talking about the astronomy homework.

I roll my eyes again. Classic Ginny changing the subject.

~~~~

"I have a question."

The common room is starting to clear out and I stop gathering my books to look at Draco. We haven't exactly spoken to each other in the recent past.

I sit back down and bite my lip nervously. "Yeah...?"

"Uh, can you help me with astronomy homework tomorrow night?"

My mind shoots back to second year, when I helped him with his astronomy homework. That's when we started getting close.

"Um, sure, if I'm not busy." I gather up my own astronomy charts and then inhale in realisation. "Actually, no. I kind of have a date tomorrow night."

Draco's expression changes, and I worry he's angry with me.

"Alright." He says eventually, and I notice he seems not angry, just defeated. He heads up to his dorm and I plop back onto the couch, letting out a sigh of frustration.

A soft knock echoes through the room. I stood up, confused why someone would be knocking. Maybe they forgot the password change. I walk through the wall and see Ginny standing, tearful.

"Ginny! What's wrong?!"

She bites back tears. We walk down through the emptying halls, being careful to avoid Filch because curfew is approaching. "I was... uh, snogging Dean and then Harry and Ron came in."